Lesson T3.1.1

T3.1.1 Pressure, force and area Quiz: KS3 Physics, Unit 3

20 questions

Written by Revision Ninja · Last reviewed 11 October 2026

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Lesson T3.1.1, Pressure, force and area: 20 multiple choice questions for the KS3 Physics (National Curriculum), Unit 3: Pressure, written with Revision Ninja.

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The 20 questions

  1. Which equation gives pressure?

    • Pressure equals mass multiplied by area, which mixes up the weight of an object with its contact
    • Pressure equals force divided by area.
    • Pressure equals area divided by force, which would make a smaller force give more pressure
    • Pressure equals force multiplied by area, which gives the total load carried by a surface

  2. What is the unit of pressure in newton-based units?

    • Newtons per square metre (N/m²)
    • Newtons per metre (N/m), which is the unit used for the spring constant of a spring
    • Joules per kilogram (J/kg), which is the unit used for energy stored in each kilogram
    • Metres per second squared (m/s²), which is the unit used for the acceleration of an object

  3. A force of 100 N acts on an area of 0.5 m². What is the pressure?

    • 0.005 N/m², which is found by dividing the area by the force instead of the other way round
    • 600 N/m², which is found by adding the force and the area and then multiplying by one hundred
    • 200 N/m²
    • 50 N/m², which is found by multiplying the force by the area and then halving the result

  4. Why does a drawing pin have a very sharp point?

    • A sharp point has a larger area in contact with the wood, which pushes it in more easily.
    • A small point area gives a large pressure for the same push.
    • A sharp point reduces the force that is applied to the wood by spreading the push out.
    • A pin with a sharp point pushes with zero pressure, so it slides into the wood without effort.

  5. Why do snowshoes help a person walk on deep snow?

    • They add an upward force that pushes the person up out of the snow and onto the surface.
    • They increase the weight pressing down onto the snow, which packs it down into a firm surface.
    • They reduce the force of gravity acting on the person, which makes the body feel lighter overall.
    • They spread the weight over a larger area, which reduces the pressure.

  6. A 600 N person stands on both feet with a total contact area of 0.03 m². What is the pressure under their feet?

    • 20 000 N/m²
    • 18 N/m², which is found by multiplying the weight by the area and then dividing by the number of feet
    • 2000 N/m², which is found by dividing the weight by the area and then dividing by one hundred
    • 200 N/m², which is found by dividing the weight by the area and then dividing the result by ten

  7. If the force stays the same but the area of contact is halved, what happens to the pressure?

    • It becomes zero, because the force cannot act on a surface that has a smaller area of contact.
    • It halves, because a smaller area is less able to support the same force from above it.
    • It stays the same, because pressure depends only on the size of the force and not on area.
    • It doubles.

  8. A block weighing 40 N rests on a surface with an area of 0.2 m². A further 20 N is added on top, with the same contact area. What is the pressure on the surface?

    • 300 N/m²
    • 8 N/m², which divides the original weight by the total area and then by the extra weight
    • 100 N/m², which uses only the extra 20 N of weight and ignores the original block entirely
    • 200 N/m², which uses only the original 40 N of weight and ignores the extra 20 N added on top

  9. In which direction does pressure from a solid act on a surface?

    • Always vertically downwards, because gravity is the only source of pressure on any surface
    • Parallel to the surface only, sliding across it rather than pushing into it at any point
    • Only upwards from the ground, pushing the object off the surface and into the air above
    • At right angles (normal) to the surface

  10. A 500 N box rests on the floor. It can stand on a face of 1 m² or a face of 0.25 m². Which gives the greater pressure, and what is it?

    • The larger face, giving 125 N/m², which is found by dividing the weight by the larger area
    • Both faces give the same pressure, because the box has the same weight whichever face is down
    • The larger face, giving 2000 N/m², because the bigger face holds more of the box's weight
    • The smaller face, giving 2000 N/m²

  11. What does 'normal' mean in the description of pressure acting on a surface?

    • At an angle of 45 degrees to the surface, which is the average direction of the push
    • At right angles to the surface
    • Pointing towards the centre of the Earth, which is the direction gravity pulls all objects
    • Parallel to the surface, running along the length of the surface in the same plane

  12. A force of 4 N acts uniformly on an area of 0.8 m². What is the pressure?

    • 20 N/m², which is found by multiplying the force by the area and then by five
    • 0.2 N/m², which is found by dividing the area by the force and then taking the reciprocal
    • 5 N/m²
    • 3.2 N/m², which is found by multiplying the force by the area and then subtracting one

  13. Why does a sharp knife cut bread more easily than a blunt one?

    • A smaller contact area gives a larger pressure for the same force.
    • A sharp knife adds extra force to the bread, which pushes through the crust more easily.
    • A sharp blade increases the area in contact with the bread, which spreads the cutting force.
    • A sharp knife reduces the weight of the bread, which makes it easier to slice through.

  14. Block B and block A both have a force of 80 N acting on them. Block A has an area of 0.4 m² and block B has an area of 0.1 m². How do their pressures compare?

    • Block B has twice the pressure of block A, which is found by halving the area of the smaller block.
    • Both blocks have equal pressure, because the same force acts on each of them in the same way.
    • Block B has a quarter of block A's pressure, because the larger block spreads its load more.
    • Block B has four times the pressure of block A.

  15. Why do tractors have wide tyres?

    • To increase friction by pressing harder on the ground, which keeps the tractor from slipping.
    • To increase the tractor's weight on the ground, which gives it more grip on the surface beneath.
    • To spread the force over a larger area and reduce the pressure on soft ground.
    • To produce a larger force on the ground than the engine itself is able to deliver to the wheels.

  16. Why do stiletto heels damage wooden floors more than flat shoes do?

    • They have a greater mass than flat shoes, which pushes the heel harder into the floor surface.
    • They reduce the area in contact with the floor to zero, which makes them hit the surface with force.
    • Their tiny contact area creates a very large pressure on the floor.
    • They apply a smaller force to the floor than flat shoes do, which should cause less damage at all.

  17. A force of 10 N acts on an area of 1 cm². What is the pressure in N/m²? (1 cm² is 0.0001 m²)

    • 1000 N/m², which uses a conversion of 0.01 m² for the area instead of the correct 0.0001 m²
    • 10 N/m², which uses the force alone and ignores the conversion of the area into square metres
    • 10 000 N/m², which uses a conversion of 0.001 m² for the area instead of the correct value
    • 100 000 N/m²

  18. Two identical bricks have the same weight. One lies flat on a table and one stands on its smallest face. Which gives more pressure on the table?

    • The brick lying flat, because its contact area is largest and it spreads its load most widely.
    • Both give the same pressure, because the two bricks have exactly the same weight and mass.
    • Neither, because pressure on a table depends only on the mass of the brick and never on area.
    • The brick standing on its smallest face, because its contact area is smaller.

  19. A pressure of 500 N/m² acts over an area of 2 m². What is the force?

    • 1000 N
    • 250 N, which is found by dividing the pressure by the area instead of multiplying the two
    • 500 N, which assumes the force has the same numerical value as the pressure given in the question
    • 502 N, which is found by adding the pressure and the area together and then rounding up

  20. Which statement about pressure is correct?

    • Pressure is the product of force and area, so a larger area always produces a larger pressure.
    • Pressure does not depend on force or area at all, because it is a property of the material only.
    • Pressure is force per unit area, so it rises when the same force acts over a smaller area.
    • Pressure is area per unit force, so it falls when the force applied to the surface increases.

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